Sydney I

Three Sisters

The itinerary includes a visit to the Blue Mountains, but unfortunately the weather is not cooperating. Although they are called mountains, these are actually elevations that eventually flatten out at an altitude of around 1000 meters, forming small plateaus that steeply descend into vast canyons. The yellowish rock enhances the scenery, while the vegetation It's incredibly dense. This is why it took over 25 years for a white man to be able to cross the Blue Mountains and reach the flat outback that lies just beyond. The name "Blue" comes from the eucalyptus oil droplets suspended in the air, which turn this color when they come into contact with the air. As for us, we can only manage to see various shades of gray! Hartley is a ghost town, due to the relocation of the railway, which has moved the valley's key areas to another location. There are still beautiful buildings made of sandstone, including the courthouse in a classical style. At Katoomba, we don't miss Echo Point, from which you can see the Three Sisters, impressive rock formations that, however, don't leave a lasting impression. The Wentworth Falls with the view of the Jamison Valley would be more interesting, were it not for the fog that often obscures them, revealing a majestic landscape only occasionally. We can only imagine how beautiful they would be in sunlight.

Arrival at Three Sisters

We finally arrive in SYDNEY, at least on its outskirts. Bruna spots a shop selling Christmas items and it takes a sudden lane change that could make even the most stressed Australian driver fume to manage to turn onto the side street and avoid any unexpected turns on one of the major roads connecting the vast suburbs to the city center. We visit a company in the vicinity of Australia's first metropolis, have lunch at a restaurant located by the ocean, and around mid-afternoon, we head towards the downtown area. For several days now, whenever we mention our intention to go to Sydney, people look at us as if we were planning to go to hell. In fact, we are lucky enough that during these very days, the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Conference) is taking place, where Bush, Chinese Prime Minister Hu Jintao, and other Asian and South American representatives are attending. Armed with maps of restricted roads, at-risk areas, and protest zones, we search for our way to the city center. We manage to get to the hotel without encountering long queues or any pacifists blocking our Corolla. From there, we challenge barricades and terrorists, starting our walking tour of Sydney. We move towards Circular Quay and we start to see a city literally under siege. Police everywhere, three helicopters constantly circling the center, blue car lanes completely isolated by fences and concrete barriers. All this amidst the curiosity of tourists and workers who, after work, leave for the weekend. In fact, even though tomorrow is just Friday, all citizens have been given a day off to avoid congesting the city center. We see... 'Opera House, whose distinctive domes resemble sails billowing in the wind, while according to the architect's plans, they are intended to represent palm leaves. We take some photos. some photos from a distance as it is forbidden to get too close. Tomorrow, the meeting will actually be held right there, and everything has been impenetrable for days. The police and divers' boats are constantly patrolling the harbor waters.

The urban face of Three Sisters

Let's also pick up on the Harbour Bridge Named "Old Coat Rack" for its distinctive shape, we explore the renovated Rocks district, the oldest neighborhood of this city, which at the time of its founding was nothing more than a noisy and squalid settlement of prisoners, criminal gangs, prostitutes, and sailors. Today, it is characterized by a pleasant atmosphere. Since we are not particularly hungry, we settle for some sweets in a café. We return after this long walk, which rewards us for the many hours we spent sitting in the car in recent days.